Are you an astronomy enthusiast? Next August, the sky over Paris will be plunged into darkness for the first time in 27 years. It’s a rare phenomenon that you’ll be able to observe throughout France. This exceptional total eclipse will be visible across much of Europe and will plunge our country into darkness for about two minutes… Here are the details you need to know!
An exceptional total solar eclipse
While the 21st century has seen a few partial solar eclipses, it has been 27 years since the French last witnessed a total eclipse… On August 12, the Sun will indeed be obscured by the Moon, plunging much of Europe—including France— into darkness. And what makes this phenomenon particularly incredible is that the degree of occultation will be high in certain regions.
And it’s in the Southwest where this eclipse will be most impressive, with a coverage rate of 99.5% in Biarritz, 98% in Toulouse, and 97.5% in Bordeaux.
In Paris, the Sun will be 92% obscured by the Moon, which will be a spectacular sight for millions of Parisians. The same goes for Brittany, where the Sun will be 95% obscured. However, the spectacle will be least visible in the eastern part of the country. In Nice, for example, you’ll only see 64% of the eclipse…
How can you best observe this solar eclipse?
As you probably know, a solar eclipse poses a real danger to your eyes and must never be viewed with the naked eye. You’ll need to wear special eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2 standard) to filter the rays and protect your retinas. Even though the burn is painless, the damage caused by such an event to your eyesight is irreversible… So both children and parents must protect themselves.
The eclipse will be visible around 8:23 p.m. in Paris, as the Sun slowly sets. It is expected to plunge the entire country into darkness for nearly two minutes. An extremely rare natural spectacle that won’t be visible again… until 2027! And to witness it then, you’ll have to travel to Spain, where the eclipse will be perfectly visible.